Aaron Phillips is one of the chef-partners behind West Midtown’s Humble Pie and the intimate foodie- favorite restaurant Lazy Betty—one of only five Atlanta restaurants to recently receive a MICHELIN star. Dubbed, the @caviarkingpin, he said, “The most beautiful part about receiving a MICHELIN star is the collective joy the restaurant team has experienced together. There’s so much camaraderie, so many staff members that have been with us since we opened. We all grew this baby together, so to put a MICHELIN star on top of that is not something I thought I’d experience in life, and to have this honor come our way is really special.”
Phillips brings years of New York-trained experience to our neighborhood and has quickly backed up the gossip of ridiculously good food and even better dining experiences. When not cooking up something special, you can find him giving back through nonprofits like KultureCity or spending quality time with his family here in Alpharetta.
Q: What has surprised you the most as you’ve evolved in this industry?
Aaron Phillips: I am most proud of the growth that I have witnessed in my colleagues and employees. The number of amazing people that I have gotten to know, learn from and teach is both inspiring and humbling. The kitchen has taught me discipline, focus and the ability to stay calm under pressure, and my hope is that I can pass that on to the people working with me.
Q: What is the best advise you’ve been given?
AP: Don’t bite off more than you can chew, but also—and maybe most importantly, in my industry—take care of your staff and they will take care of the business. This is a “people world,” and it’s wise to try and work well with everyone because you can’t do any of it alone. It’s all about relationships.
Q: How do you like to give back to the community?
AP: I work closely with KultureCity, which is an organization that serves children with sensory needs and non-visible disabilities like PTSD, autism, dementia and strokes. I also work with The Giving Kitchen, Ronald McDonald House and CURE.
Q: Where can people find you around Alpharetta?
AP: We like taking our kids to Andy’s Frozen Custard where my go-to is a strawberry concrete with extra strawberry. Hen Mother Cookhouse is an awesome brunch spot, and it’s owned by one of our neighbors. She’s the coolest.
